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Brenda Padilla Ericksen

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Brenda is the founder of GAP Academy, where J-1 and F-1 students gain the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to thrive in the USA. She provides cultural diversity and intercultural competence training for US exchange programs, sending organizations worldwide and personnel at multinational companies. Brenda has a Spanish Degree from Western Washington University and has been immersed in cultural diversity for over 30 years as a teacher, journalist and corporate trainer. She is from Seattle, Washington and has lived and worked in Spain for 30 years where she has raised four daughters. She is a former international student (Spain & Norway), host mother (Thailand, France, Austria & USA), and the mother of daughters who exchanged to France, Canada, USA, South Korea & Nepal.
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Recent Posts

Exchange students bring magic glasses with them to the USA. Let’s look through their lenses for fresh perspectives on ordinary...


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Tags: Culture Shock

Is it difficult to host an exchange student on a gluten-free diet


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Tags: Host Families, Host an exchange student, Gluten-Free

Hosting an exchange student transforms Christmas into an international event. What could be more fun than sharing your Christmas...


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Tags: Exchange Student, Holidays, Host an exchange student,

A few years ago, the Browns' first exchange student literally stormed out of their home, leaving them heartbroken. Fortunately,...


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Tags: Host Families, Cultural Exchange

Do you want your host family to adore you? Then this post is for you!


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Tags: Cultural Exchange, American values, Gratitude in the USA

The first time we hosted an exchange student, the coordinator gave us a list of topics to discuss with our new student.


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Tags: Host Families

It’s hard to believe that Katie Schlagel is only 18 years old. International youth exchange has made her particularly wise about...


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Tags: Host Families, Exchange Student, Study Abroad

Jill Bonin was a mom with a mission: connect her son and daughter – adopted from Korea – with their homeland in meaningful ways....


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Tags: Host Families, Cultural Exchange, Homeland Tour Korea,

Cassidy and Chris Miller have just said good-bye to Jose from Barcelona. He is one more international son that has lived with...


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Tags: Host Families, Host an exchange student, Reasons to host,

Cassandra Ross and her husband were expecting to host Kim, a lovely exchange student from Germany when… the unexpected happened....


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Tags: Host Families, Cultural Exchange, Youth Exchange,

We take too much in life for granted!

That is why hosting an exchange student makes life so much more fun:

  • Your ordinary meals...

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Tags: Welcome Family, Host Families, StudentoftheMonth,

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